By Phil Gallo
Elvis Presley fans holding onto the “Double Features” two-fers from 1995 just to have movie tracks like “A Cane and a High Starched Collar,” “Change of Habit” and “Poison Ivy League” are in for a treat on March 18.
Legacy Recordings will release a 60-CD box set, Elvis Presley – The Album Collection, which includes his 1956 RCA debut, all 17 of his film soundtracks, celebrated recordings made in Memphis—even his '70s Stax session Raised on Rock!—and Nashville plus the compilations of Elvis' Golden Records and the tracks that appeared on the RCA Camden "budget" series.
The release date is tied to the 60th anniversary of the release of the platinum-certified Elvis Presley, his RCA debut that includes “Blue Suede Shoes” and “Blue Moon.” The set also includes recordings The King made for Sun in 1954-55 and three new compilations of rarities organized by decades.
Album packaging will be restored including gatefold/die cut sleeves, original RCA Victor inserts and stickers, CD labels replicating original Side 1 labels and more. A 300-page hardcover book includes commentary from Elvis Presley scholar John Jackson, discographies, recording session details and photos.
RCA released 57 original Presley LPs and Legacy has been mining the Presley vaults for decades, most recently releasing expanded editions of his 1970s work such as Today, which included undubbed session mixes and a live show from 1975, Recorded Live on Stage in Memphis, enhanced with a '74 show and rehearsal recordings, and a box set of That's the Way It Is comprising eight CDs and two DVDs of August 1970 shows at the International Hotel in Las Vegas.
Legacy started releasing complete albums series in 2009 with Miles Davis, followed by Johnny Cash, The Byrds, Sam Cooke and Return to Forever; the Tony Bennett set is their largest to date at 76 CDs. The series has long been part of Legacy's plan to digitally update all the music in its vaults.
And for anyone who can’t wait until March to get those songs from It Happened at the World's Fair or Flaming Star, Double Features CDs are selling for $100+ on eBay.
